Protective Case With Integrated Peripheral Docking Receptacle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peripheral solutions for electronic devices, such as headphones and earbuds, face issues with cord management, storage, and ease of use, particularly in portable protective cases, leading to tangling, misplacement, and time-sensitive challenges in accessing these devices during calls or usage.
Innovation Solution
The development of protective cases with integrated features like docking receptacles, rechargeable batteries, and flexible members for easy ejection of peripherals, along with cable management systems like spools to prevent tangling, ensures secure storage and quick access to peripherals while providing power and charging capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If peripheral devices are carried separately in pockets or bags, then they are easily accessible, but they are prone to misplacement and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective case for the electronic device with storage compartments and docking receptacles for peripheral devices into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need to carry peripherals separately, preventing misplacement while maintaining easy access through dedicated compartments that can be quickly opened or accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective case contains nested compartments and docking receptacles within its structure, creating a hierarchical organization where the electronic device is protected in the main compartment while peripherals are stored in smaller nested compartments. This nesting approach consolidates multiple items into one compact unit, reducing the risk of tangling and misplacement.
2Reliability
If wireless earbuds are stored in a simple compartment, then they are protected from damage, but they cannot be easily recharged or managed
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case is designed with multi-functional docking receptacles that simultaneously provide physical storage, protection, and wireless charging capabilities for earbuds. The same compartment that protects the earbuds from damage also serves as a charging station, eliminating the need for separate charging devices and simplifying management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective storage function with the charging function into a single docking receptacle system. The receptacle provides both mechanical protection when earbuds are stored and wireless power transfer when docked, combining multiple functions into one integrated solution that enhances both protection and ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a protective case includes integrated charging features, then peripheral devices can be recharged conveniently, but the case becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case incorporates a power bank and wireless charging circuitry that enable automatic charging of docked earbuds without user intervention. When earbuds are placed in the docking receptacle, they are automatically recharged through wireless power transfer, making the system self-sufficient and reducing the need for additional charging devices or complex manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective case is designed as a multi-functional unit that combines device protection, peripheral storage, power banking, and wireless charging capabilities. By integrating these functions into a single universal platform, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to carrying separate protective cases, power banks, and charging devices.
4Ease of operation
If wired headphones are stored loosely, then they are easy to retrieve, but cords become tangled and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case includes nested compartments specifically designed for organizing wired headphones and their cords. The cord storage compartment is nested within the main case structure, providing a dedicated space that keeps cords neatly wound and organized while allowing quick retrieval of headphones without dealing with tangling.
Data Source
AI summary
A protective case for an electronic device and an associated electrical peripheral device includes a structural member for receiving at least a portion of the electronic device and protecting the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, an aperture that provides access to a user interface of the installed electronic device, a docking receptacle for removably retaining the electrical peripheral device, and a flexible member attached to the structural member and positioned in proximity to the docking receptacle. The docking receptacle includes a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the electrical peripheral device and an engagement mechanism for removably retaining the electrical peripheral device in the cavity. The flexible member is configured to temporarily deform toward the cavity of the docking receptacle in response to an external force applied to the flexible member.